TRUSTEES
The Trustees are volunteers on the management committee that oversee the running of the charity. Being a small charity the role of a PPC trustee is quite hands-on and the members are involved in anything from discussing the strategic direction for the Centre to serving tea and cakes at our fundraising events.
NADINE EDWARDS
I am a Trustee, member of the Birth Project Group and co-facilitator of the Birth Educators course.
I became involved in childbirth issues while I was pregnant with my first child in 1976 and quickly understood the impact of pregnancy and birth on women and families and the difference support and information can make. Through the yoga groups, I hope to contribute positively to women’s physical, emotional and spiritual experience of pregnancy, birth and early motherhood
I joined the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) in 1980 after the birth of my third baby and am currently one of its Vice Chairs. I completed the first Birth Teacher’s Course through the West London Birth Centre in 1982 and have run pregnancy groups in Edinburgh since 1985.
I completed a PhD on women’s experiences of homebirths in 2002, which was published as a book, ‘Birthing Autonomy: Women’s Experiences of Planning Home Births’. I continue to research and write about birth issues in books and journals and was co-editor of the MIDIRS Midwifery Digest.
I live with my husband and am fortunate to be a mother of three grown up children, and Grannie to five beautiful grandchildren. My passions are my family, improving women’s and families’ experiences of birth and researching into and campaigning on the politics of birth and midwifery.
FRANCESCA DYMOND
I joined the Board of Trustees in October 2019, after the birth of my second son, Leo. My journey with the PPC started in 2015 when I was pregnant with my first son, Freddie, and it came as a revelation. I was searching for antenatal yoga online, and what I stumbled upon was an enriching, positive space for expectant parents that completely altered my perceptions and mindset going into childbirth. I feel so lucky to have found the PPC, and have made countless connections within its walls that are still so valuable to me, four years on.
I am a Marketing and Communications professional, and joined the PPC Trustees at a time of exciting change in 2019. I hope to be able to support the fundraising, marketing and comms activities of this vital organisation and help them reach families that – frankly – don’t know what they’re missing! Delighted to be on board.
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~ Fran is currently taking a sabbatical from Trustee duties to focus on her family. We look forward to welcoming her back in 2024 ~
NESSA MCHUGH
I provide a link between Edinburgh Napier University and the Centre. The midwifery programme team at Napier is keen to promote links between the midwifery programme and the PPC.
I am also member of the Birth Project Group which is a cross nation / universities / voluntary sector group keen to provide support to birth workers of all areas and backgrounds.
I help facilitate the Birth Education Course which I find very enjoyable. Finally, I act as a link supervisor of midwives for the centre.
I got involved in the Centre via Nadine Edwards. I had been involved in community organisations in England and when I moved up to Scotland I got in touch with Nadine to see what was happening locally. This turned out to be a great decision.
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I have been a midwife for over twenty years, during which time I have worked in a variety of midwifery settings. I'm currently a midwifery lecturer at Edinburgh Napier. I have been involved with a number of voluntary groups in the past and am interested in grass roots maternity organisations.
I am married with two grown-up children, a bouncy dog and a cat. I have masses of interests but top of the current list are: disappearing into books, knitting (which unfortunately I do badly but I just love wool) and generally mooching about with my friends and family.
Helen Williams
I joined the board of trustees in 2023 after I discovered the Pregnancy & Parents Centre way back in 2010 when I was pregnant with my first child Freyja and attend yoga for pregnancy. I loved the centre; I loved all the groups I attended with Freyja and then all the groups again with my second child Eli. It was such an integral part of my children’s early years and a place where I made incredible friendships which continue to this day. I felt at ease within the centre, with all the staff and supported throughout my time there; and my children loved it.
My partner and myself also attended the home birth support group as our second child Eli was born at home. The centre offered a unique level of support, knowledge and guidance around birthing which helped empower our choices and decisions.
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My background for a long time was in counselling and outdoor therapeutic groups work, mainly with teenagers and their families, with a focus on drug and mental health issues. From this I moved into social work and I am currently working in child protection. I also really enjoy putting on events and bringing communities together. I hope to use my skills in supporting the PPC in continuing to reach families.
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